Qatar-based Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (Gord) presented a workshop titled, “The Future of Green Buildings in GCC: Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) Standard Perspective” in Kuwait recently. The event, helmed by Gord founding chairman Dr Yousef Alhorr, was the first of many such initiatives to be held under the MoU signed earlier this year between Gord and EnerTech Holding Company. Under the MoU, the two organisations established collaboration on GSAS related activities including deployment of GSAS in projects in Kuwait; educational activities such as training courses, workshops and seminars; and other joint projects. The workshop aimed to provide delegates with the necessary tools and means of sustainable development giving them the opportunity to create sustainable building projects within Kuwait in accordance with GSAS standards. It started with a welcome address by Abdullah al-Mutairi,CEO, EnerTech, who highlighted the significance of the inaugural workshop. Dr Alhorr thanked EnerTech Company for organising the session and listed the environmental challenges in GCC and the benefits of adoption to green buildings standards. This was followed by a detailed description of the development process of GSAS as well as the GSAS tools and resources. The barriers to green buildings implementation were also discussed during the session. Dr Alhorr said, “One of GSAS main objectives is the dissemination of awareness for all whose working in the construction industry and indeed for all people living in the world, about the importance of behaving sustainably which can lead to conserving natural resources, protecting the environment, and improving human well-being”. Dr Alhorr also presented the case studies of GSAS certified projects in Qatar and Kuwait which was followed by a Q&A session. Gord’s marketing and communications director Salah al-Ayoubi spoke about two initiatives for engagement of the sustainability community: the LinkMe online portal and the upcoming annual event in October: Sustainability Summit 2018 where practitioners, experts, regulators and researchers come together to discuss various topics on sustainability and climate change. The workshop was attended by around 100 delegates including a number of EnerTech employees as well as engineers, architects and other professionals who will be working on projects aiming for GSAS certification. At the end, all delegates received a certificate by Gord Academy.